Manchester 48 Hour Film Project Returns for Season 2 in 2026

Filmmakers across the North-West are invited to take on the Ultimate 48-Hour Creative Challenge…

The Manchester 48 Hour Film Project is officially returning for its second season in 2026, calling on filmmakers, students, professionals, enthusiasts and bold creatives throughout and across the entire region to step up and take on one of the most exhilarating filmmaking challenges in the world.

The official Kick-Off Event takes place on 15 May 2026, launching a high-intensity competition weekend running 15–17 May 2026, where teams will have just 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a short film.

All completed films will premiere on the big screen at Vue Printworks, with the Screenings & Awards Ceremony on 30 May 2026.

What Is the 48 Hour Film Project?

Part of a global filmmaking movement spanning over 100 cities worldwide, the 48 Hour Film Project challenges teams to create a short film in just one weekend.

At the Kick-Off event, teams receive:

• A randomly assigned genre
• A required character
• A prop
• A line of dialogue

From that moment, the clock starts ticking.

The result? Raw creativity. Electric collaboration. And an unforgettable cinematic showcase.

Literally anyone can enter – make a film and see your dream go to screen!

Benefits & Perks

Why should you participate in the Manchester 48 Hour Film project – other than it being the world’s largest and oldest timed short film competition?

• All films produced during the official film competition weekend will premiere exclusively at Vue Cinema who is one of our proud and leading partners.
• All filmmakers and films will compete for prestigious local awards in over 12+ categories such as Best Directing, Best Writing, Best Acting and much more. Including the coveted title of being crowned BEST FILM in 2026.
• The Top 3 films will be selected to screen at the Raindance Film Festival in 2027 as part of our partnership with Raindance.
• The winning film the opportunity to represent Manchester at Filmapalooza 2027, the global 48HFP showcase where they will also stand a chance to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner. 

All you have to do is dust off your gear, gather your team and enter! Entries open 9 March 2026, with an Early Bird rate of just £60 per team.

You don’t need fancy equipment, or big crews! Teams can be any size from 1-99 and you can even film on your phone. It’s all about community creativity and highlighting independent filmmaking.

A Community-Driven Creative Platform

Beyond competition, Manchester 48 is about building creative infrastructure and opportunity in the North West.

The project champions:

• Emerging filmmakers
• Collaboration across disciplines
• Professional development
• Access to industry pathways

The 2026 edition proudly continues its collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester News, and the internationally renowned Raindance Film Festival.

Official Partner: Vue

The 2026 season is made possible in partnership with Vue Cinema, who continue to champion independent filmmaking by hosting the Kick-Off, Screenings and Awards at Vue Printworks. We are also thrilled to have Manchester Metropolitan University onboard as one of our proud sponsors and partners for the 2026 Season!

Paul Preston from Team North Star (2025 Winning Team and Film):
"The Manchester 48Hr Film Project was an incredible experience from start to finish and I would highly recommend it to others. The challenge was great fun, and the filming weekend was a non-stop adventure. The cherry on top was the screening - seeing all the films on the big screen, getting to know other filmmakers and discussing future collaborations, and being able to bring your family to a real red-carpet premiere - something that we all dream of. We were very grateful that our film was so well received and we’re looking forward to attending the World Final at Filmapalooza in Portugal."

“We are really excited to be working with 48 Hour Film Project, it is a fantastic opportunity for all our creative students to get some hands-on experience bot through entering the project and helping produce the event” - Dr. Emily Brick, Senior Lecturer in Film and Media, Manchester Metropolitan University

Calling All Creatives

We’ve received an exclusive discount code, specifically for Visit Manchester visitors who are registering to participate in the 48 Hour Film Project.

The promo code MCR48hfp26 gives a 15% discount to the first 10 teams who use it when signing up. This is strictly first-come, first-served, so once all 10 uses have been claimed, the code will no longer be valid.

There’s no general entry deadline, but with a limited number of discounted spots available, it’s well worth registering early to take advantage of the offer.

Whether you’re:

• A professional filmmaker
• A film student
• A first-time director
• A producer, actor, writer or editor
• Or simply bold enough to take on the challenge

Manchester 48 2026 is your moment.

Entries open 9 March 2026.
Season 2 begins 15 May 2026.

Register at: www.48hourfilm.com/manchester

Follow @manchester48hourfilm on Instagram or Facebook for updates! 

Manchester, your time is now. Are you ready to roll?